NEW CASTLE 4 teens face charges in fire

By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Four youths, ages 13 to 15, face charges in the blaze that destroyed a band shelter at Taggart Stadium.
Victor Cubellis, city police chief, said juvenile petitions were being filed today in Lawrence County Juvenile Court.
He said a 13-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl face charges of arson, conspiracy to commit arson, institutional vandalism and recklessly endangering.
Another 13-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl are being charged with conspiracy to commit arson, the chief said.
All were sent home in the custody of their parents after the Monday night blaze, Cubellis said. The police chief said he did not know what punishment the teens could face.
What happened: Police say the four were playing with lighters and papers when the wooden floor caught fire sometime after 7 p.m.
The two-story wooden structure is used as a shelter for the 125-member New Castle High School band and storage for football and track equipment.
The open-air second floor and its bleachers were destroyed by fire, and the bottom storage area had heavy smoke and water damage, said Fire Chief James Donston.
Damages are estimated at about $100,000, he said.
Schools Superintendent Joseph Martin said the district hopes to raze the building as soon as possible to prevent anyone from being injured if they go near it.
It is mainly used during football season to shield band members from rain and snow during games, he said.
Martin could not say how old the building was, but said it had been there since at least the late 1950s.
He said the district would like to rebuild it with money from its fire insurance policy.